Top 12 Clerk Typist Skills to Put on Your Resume
Crafting an outstanding resume matters for clerk typists who want to be noticed. Show the skills that prove speed, accuracy, calm organization, and fluency with common office tools. Do that well and your application won’t blend into the pile.
Clerk Typist Skills
- Touch Typing
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Excel
- Data Entry
- Proofreading
- Google Docs
- Keyboarding (KPH)
- Transcription
- CRM Software
- Adobe Acrobat
- Email Management
- Time Management
1. Touch Typing
Touch typing uses muscle memory to find keys without looking down. Faster. Cleaner. Far fewer slips. Essential for anyone handling steady streams of text.
Why It's Important
It boosts speed and accuracy, cuts fatigue, and keeps your attention on the content instead of the keyboard—exactly what high-volume clerical work demands.
How to Improve Touch Typing Skills
Build consistency first, speed second. A practical path:
Home row discipline: Keep fingers anchored; reduce hand travel.
Daily reps: Short, focused sessions beat marathon practices.
Accuracy before WPM: Aim for 97–99% accuracy; speed follows.
Timed drills: Mix copy typing, numbers, and punctuation sets.
Ergonomics: Neutral wrists, proper chair height, and periodic breaks prevent strain.
How to Display Touch Typing Skills on Your Resume
2. Microsoft Word
Word is the backbone of everyday documents—letters, forms, memos, reports—with formatting features that keep everything consistent and professional.
Why It's Important
It streamlines drafting, editing, and formatting so you can deliver polished documents quickly, even under time pressure.
How to Improve Microsoft Word Skills
Styles and headings: Create structure that auto-updates and stays uniform.
Templates: Save recurring layouts and brand standards once; reuse forever.
Quick Parts and AutoCorrect: Drop in common text blocks and auto-expand snippets instantly.
Track Changes and Comments: Collaborate cleanly and keep an audit trail.
Navigation Pane: Jump through long documents without scrolling forever.
Keyboard shortcuts: Cut formatting time dramatically with muscle-memory commands.
How to Display Microsoft Word Skills on Your Resume
3. Microsoft Excel
Excel organizes, analyzes, and presents data. Lists, logs, totals, schedules, quick checks—fast and tidy.
Why It's Important
It improves accuracy, automates repetitive work, and turns raw data into clear information you can act on.
How to Improve Excel Skills
Tables: Use structured references and filters for reliable lists.
Core formulas: Master SUM, AVERAGE, COUNT, and logical tests like IF.
Lookups done right: Learn XLOOKUP (preferable) and INDEX/MATCH.
Data validation: Restrict inputs to keep records clean.
Conditional formatting: Let the sheet flag exceptions for you.
PivotTables and charts: Summarize and visualize without fuss.
Shortcuts: Speed through navigation, formatting, and entry.
How to Display Excel Skills on Your Resume
4. Data Entry
Accurate input of information into databases and spreadsheets—quickly, carefully, consistently.
Why It's Important
Good data powers good decisions. Clean, timely entry preserves records, prevents rework, and keeps teams aligned.
How to Improve Data Entry Skills
Double-check high-impact fields: Names, IDs, dates—verify before saving.
Use validation and drop-downs: Reduce typos and mismatches.
Batch similar tasks: Fewer context switches, fewer mistakes.
Master keyboard shortcuts: Keep hands off the mouse when possible.
Create checklists: Standardize steps for recurring entries.
Ergonomic setup: Comfort preserves accuracy over long stretches.
How to Display Data Entry Skills on Your Resume
5. Proofreading
Final, careful review of grammar, spelling, numbers, and formatting before a document goes out the door.
Why It's Important
It protects credibility. Fewer errors, clearer messages, smoother workflows.
How to Improve Proofreading Skills
Slow the pace: Read line by line; then read backward for typos.
Read aloud: Awkward phrasing and missing words reveal themselves.
One pass, one focus: First for content, then for grammar, then for format.
Use tools wisely: Spell/grammar checks help, but human judgment wins.
Style consistency: Headings, dates, lists—make them match.
Take short breaks: Fresh eyes catch more.
Maintain a personal error list: Track your common mistakes and hunt them down.
How to Display Proofreading Skills on Your Resume
6. Google Docs
Web-based word processing with real-time collaboration and easy sharing—great for teams, remote work, and version control.
Why It's Important
Edit from anywhere, track changes, and keep everyone on the same page without emailing attachments around.
How to Improve Google Docs Skills
Shortcuts: Learn the keystrokes for formatting and navigation.
Headings, bookmarks, and outline: Structure long documents for quick jumps.
Voice typing and dictation: Draft quickly, then refine.
Add-ons: Extend features for citations, formatting, and reviews.
Comments and suggestions: Collaborate without overwriting.
Templates: Standardize letters, forms, and reports.
Offline mode: Keep working even without internet; sync later.
Custom substitutions: Expand shorthand into full phrases automatically.
How to Display Google Docs Skills on Your Resume
7. Keyboarding (KPH)
Keyboarding covers both words per minute and keystrokes per hour (KPH), including 10-key entry. Speed is good; accuracy is gold.
Why It's Important
High KPH with strong accuracy keeps data moving and correct. Typical targets: 8,000–10,000 KPH is solid; 12,000+ is excellent.
How to Improve Keyboarding Skills
Form first: Light touch, even rhythm, minimal hand travel.
10-key drills: Practice numeric keypad sequences with timed sets.
Mixed content: Alternate text, numbers, and symbols to build versatility.
Track metrics: Measure WPM, KPH, and accuracy weekly.
Reduce corrections: Learn to move on and fix errors at natural pauses.
How to Display Keyboarding Skills on Your Resume
8. Transcription
Converting recorded speech into accurate text. Punctuation, timing, and context awareness matter.
Why It's Important
Meetings, interviews, and calls become searchable records. Clear documentation means fewer miscues later.
How to Improve Transcription Skills
Typing + listening: Train both together; practice with varied accents and audio quality.
Industry terms: Build glossaries for the fields you support.
Playback controls: Learn speed changes, hotkeys, and looping for tough segments.
Foot pedal/text expanders: Keep hands on keys and save time on common phrases.
Quality pass: Proofread with timestamps or paragraph markers for easy reference.
How to Display Transcription Skills on Your Resume
9. CRM Software
Customer Relationship Management systems store contacts, track interactions, and coordinate follow-ups. Clerical work plugs right into this hub.
Why It's Important
Organized records, faster responses, fewer duplicates, and a clear view of who needs what—and when.
How to Improve CRM Software Skills
Customize fields and views: Show the data you actually need; hide the noise.
Standardize entry rules: Required fields, picklists, and formats keep data clean.
Automate routine steps: Tasks, reminders, and email templates reduce manual work.
Integrate email and calendars: Log messages and events automatically.
Deduplicate and audit: Merge records and run periodic data quality checks.
Privacy awareness: Follow organizational policies for sensitive information.
How to Display CRM Software Skills on Your Resume
10. Adobe Acrobat
Create, edit, secure, and share PDFs. Forms, stamps, redactions—the works.
Why It's Important
PDF is the common denominator for official documents. Acrobat keeps formatting intact and workflows moving.
How to Improve Adobe Acrobat Skills
OCR and scans: Turn images into searchable, editable text.
Edit and organize: Rearrange pages, combine files, and fix text quickly.
Fillable forms: Build fields, validations, and calculations to cut manual entry.
Comments and reviews: Mark up precisely and track decisions.
Protect and redact: Set permissions, add passwords, and remove sensitive data properly.
E-signatures and workflows: Collect signatures and route documents reliably.
How to Display Adobe Acrobat Skills on Your Resume
11. Email Management
Sorting, prioritizing, replying, and archiving messages so nothing slips and everything’s findable.
Why It's Important
Inbox chaos wastes time. Clear systems speed responses, reduce stress, and protect relationships.
How to Improve Email Management Skills
Rules and labels: Auto-route mail by sender, subject, or keywords.
Templates: Save standard replies and tweak as needed.
Time windows: Check in batches; avoid constant switching.
Unsubscribe and mute: Trim noise so signals stand out.
Keyboard shortcuts: Archive, search, and navigate in seconds.
Snooze and follow-up: Resurface messages when action is likely.
Search operators: Find exactly what you need, fast.
How to Display Email Management Skills on Your Resume
12. Time Management
Planning daily work, slotting priorities, and finishing on time—even when the queue grows.
Why It's Important
Deadlines stop slipping. Workloads feel lighter. Quality rises because tasks get the attention they deserve.
How to Improve Time Management Skills
Prioritize with intent: Urgent vs. important—pick the right next task.
Time blocking: Reserve focused blocks for typing, filing, and follow-ups.
Break big tasks: Smaller steps reduce friction and reveal progress.
Batch routine work: Emails together, entries together, prints together.
Pomodoro intervals: Work sprints with short breaks to maintain pace.
Track and adjust: Review weekly; refine estimates and habits.
Limit distractions: Silence pings, clean your workspace, and set boundaries.
How to Display Time Management Skills on Your Resume
